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This is a variation on a similar question I posted a while back, but that question was more project specific.

My goal is to develop the following components that I can reuse from project to project for existing and future clients (I understand that there will be a degree of customization and these are just examples):

All of these need to be scaleable and reusable to as much an extent as reasonably possible.

I've been a freelance web developer for about four years and I'm looking to hire a programmer. I have a communications background along with HTML, JavaScript, ActionScript experience; but my knowledge of ASP, Cold Fusion and PHP is extremely basic (I can't program in them myself).

So, if you had a blank slate, what language would you choose to develop your projects in? I've received resumes from programmers specializing in PHP, CF, ASP.NET, but no one does it all. So I guess I have to choose . . .

Any one have any ideas? Also, any tips on hiring a programmer would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks a lot to anyone who responds!

I'm no expert on many different languages, but my two cents is that PHP is very nicely constructed for the Web. Fast, very easy to learn and decent number of developers know PHP. Coupled with Perl for a lot of backend work, it can suit all your needs.

If you go with other languages, I would steer away from the little-used ones, frankly. If you need help solving a programming problem, there are endless numbers of web forums and other resources on the web for PHP and Perl that can answer almost any question you might have.

I use Coldfusion, but if I could do it all over again I would have gone with ASP. Coldfusion licenses are thousands of dollars, so hosting is much harder to find for CF websites. ASP can handle 99.9% of the things most people use CF for, including me.

There is absolutely no difference in what you can archive with ASP,PHP,CF,JSP for virtually ANY web based projects. This is like asking whether a dog is a better pet or a cat. You will never get the perfect answer.

If this is a business you are running, you must consider the cost of hiring employees who code with the language your have chosen. I would choose between PHP and ASP. Don't rely on CF. As far as I know, CF people costs the most. In my country, ASP, while IIS is not free, the popularity of MS products have created a nice supply of ASP/VB programmers out there. That makes ASP coders cheaper to hire than PHP coders.

My experience is PHP coders are more "hardcore" than ASP coders. Probably because the majority of Unix users are more exposed to codings and compiling things.

If a person tells you he is an expert in all ASP,ASP.NET,PHP,JSP,CF, don't hire him. No offense to the real geniuses out there. :)

There is absolutely no difference in what you can archive with ASP,PHP,CF,JSP for virtually ANY web based projects. This is like asking whether a dog is a better pet or a cat. You will never get the perfect answer.

Raymond, I notice you didn't mention Perl there, Perl can do some back end things that the ones you mention would not have a chance of doing. A combination of PHP and Perl skill-sets is an awesome asset for a developer.

I need to hire a fulltime employee so hiring three programmers is not an option.

I have made my decision . . . drum roll . . . ASP.NET.

Many of you suggested that the specific languages are so similar that it really comes down to the right person. I think I found the right person and his preference is ASP.NET so that's what I'll be going with. Of course he works in the other languages as well, with the exception of CF.

Also, I do have freelancers that will be able to cover areas beyond my programmer's expertise.

Unless you want to re-invent the wheel (possibly for re-selling the software), it makes sense to go looking for good GPL'd software. If one exists, hire a programmer that knows the language and/or ask the creators for help (be sure to donate money).

I personally am avoiding any MS-based software because as a programmer, I like having control over my tools.

That said, the functionalities you have listed are very ambitious if you are going to code them from scratch (what I assumed you meant using the term "blank slate"). Expect any programmer worth their salt to want to use pre-existing components, or the project to drag on forever.

So basically, it makes sense to choose a programmer that has a good knowledge of free components, or choose a programming language based on what components already exist.